Gas anticipator



Aug. 25, 1959 l.. K. CLARK ErAL 2,901,566

GAS ANTICIPATOR filed Jan. 18, Y1 95'1 ATTU RNEYB United States Patent O GAS ANTICIPATOR Lucius K. Clark and Charles Lee King, Grundy Center, Iowa Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 635,057

s Claims. (Cl. 20o-61.03)

This invention relates to devices for detecting the presence of objectionable gases and particularly gases that may be poisonous or explosive, and in particular a casing having a gas filled, sealed container therein, and a switch mounted in the casing and positioned whereby movements of the container, responsive to changes in densityof gases in the casing, close the switch and provide an audible or visible alarm, or actuate a valve or other closure means for shutting olf or releasing a fluid.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a bulb actuator for a switch in which the device is responsive to changes in density of lgases in which the changes are not detectable by conventional means.

Various types of devices have been provided for making and breaking circuits due to atmospheric conditions, however, although such devices are responsive to temperature changes, it has been found diiiicult to operate devices of this type by variations in the density of gases.

With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a relatively small elongated casing having a container and a switch therein in which the container moves upwardly when surrounded by a gas heavier than air and downwardly in the presence of gas lighter than air, and in which the container actuates the switch to close a circuit to an alarm signal, or actuate a control device.

The object of this invention, is therefore, to provide a container, a pivotally mounted support therefor, and al switch whereby a slight change in the density of a gas in which the container is positioned actuates the container to open or close a circuit of an alarm or open or close a valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas detector that operates for detecting gases heavier or lighter than air in which means is provided for resetting the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas anticipator that is adapted to operate to complete a circuit to a signal device with changes in density of gas in which the device is positioned, in which an arm is actuated to close a circuit when a gas surrounding a container on the alim is either heavier or lighter than air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gas anticipator that operates with a very delicate movement in which the device is of a simple and economical construction,

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a substantially rectangular shaped casing having louvers in upper, lower and front walls thereof,l a bracket suspendedv from a mountingy block on a rear wall of the casing, an arm pivotally mounted in the bracket, a hollow container carried by one end of the arm, a magnet positioned on the opposite end of the arm and at least one mercury switch mounted in the casing and positioned to be closed by the magnet or end of the arm.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

2,901,566 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 Figure l is a longitudinal section through the casing with the operating parts shown in elevation therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the casing showing the arm, container, and switch.

Figure 3 is a cross section through one side of the casing taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the parts shown on an enlarged scale illustrating the mounting of the bracket in which the arm of the device is pivotally mounted.

Figure 4 is a view showing the mercury switch also with parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a View showing a device for resetting the anticipator.

Figure 6 is a cross section through one end of the casing showing a modification wherein one switch is positioned above the extended end of the arm on which the container is carried, and another switch is positioned below the arm.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved gas anticipator of this invention includes an arm 10 having a container 11 carried on one end and having a magnet or weight 12 on the opposite end, a bracket including side bars 13 and 14 mounted on a screw 15 threaded into a block 16 secured to a rear wall 17 of a casing having a complementary front wall 18, a base 19, an upper panel 20 and end walls 21 and 22, by screws 23, an axle 24 having pointed ends 25 and 26, and pivotally mounted by the pointed ends in bearings 27 and 28, and a mercury switch including a bulb 29 and contacts 30 and 31. The bulb 29 is carried by a bracket 32 extended from the plate 17 to which the bracket is secured with screws 33.

With the parts positioned, as illustrated in Figure l, downward movement of the container or bulb 11, resulting from the bulb being positioned in gas, lighter than air, swings the arm to substantially a horizontal position, at which time the bulb overbalances the weight causing the arm to snap to the position shown in dotted lines wherein the weight actuates the switch or bulb 29, and downward movement of the magnet 12 resulting from upward movement of the container 11 with the container in gas heavier than air positions the magnet whereby the contact point 31 is actuated to close a circuit with the bulb 29 in a lower position with the screws 55 and 56 in openings also referred to by the numerals 55 and 56. Upon upward movement of the magnet 12 the contact point 31 is influenced thereby to the left, from the position shown in Figure 4, whereby the point engages mercury 34, thereby completing a circuit through wires 35 and 36, with a switch 37 closed, to a bell 38 and a light 39. The wire 35 extends to one terminal of the bell 38 and the opposite terminal of the bell is connected by a wire 40 to'one terminal of the light 39, the opposite terminal of the light being connected to a transformer 41 and the opposite end of the coil of the transformer being connected to the wire 36. The opposite coil of the transformer is connected to a current supply by wires 42 and 43, the wire 42 having a switch 44 therein.

The bars 13 and 14 of the bracket in which the arm 10 is pivotally mounted are retained in spaced relation by tubular spacers, with a spacer 45 on the screw 1S and a similar spacer 46 on a bolt 47 extended through lower ends of the bars and provided with a nut 48.

The upper panel 20 of the casing is provided with louvers 49 and similar louvers 50 are provided in the base 19 and front wall 18, whereby free circulation through the casing is obtained.

The rear wall 17 of the casing is formed with a continuous flange 51 and the base, upper panel and end walls are secured to the rear Wall with screws 52 that are threaded in the ange.

The casing is mounted on a wall, instrument panel or other device, as indicated by the numeral 53 by screws S4. The rear wall 17 is provided with spaced openings for screws 55 and 56, as shown in Figure 6 and similar openings are provided for the screws 33 of the bracket 32 of the bulb 29 whereby the bulb may be positioned, as shown in Figure 1, or as shown in the lower position, as indicated by the numeral 57 in Figure 6.

In some instances, and where it is particularly desirable to detect gases heavier than air, wherein the container 11 moves upwardly, the mercury Contact or switch is mounted in the lower position and wherein it is desirable to detect natural and other gases, which are lighter than air, whereby the container or bulb 11 will drop downwardly, the mercury switch is mounted in the upper position as shown in Figure 1.

The gas anticipator is also provided with a reset button 58 on a shaft 59, and the shaft which is rotatably mounted in the casing, is provided with a loop 60 and that is positioned to engage the ends of the ann whereby the device is reset by turning the button.

By this means the device is returned to an operative position after a signal is produced thereby.

The gas anticipator may, therefore, be provided with a mercury switch mounted in the upper position, or with a similar switch mounted in the lower position, or with switches mounted in both upper and lower positions, as illustrated in Figure 5 so that gases heavier than air or lighter than air may be detected.

With the arm pivotally mounted by the points 25 and 26 in the bearings 27 and 2S and with the container 11 formed of a relatively light-weight material such as 150 weight polyethylene, or other suitable material, the device is responsive to slight changes in density of gases in 4which the anticipator is positioned.

The container or bulb 11 may contain air, gas at atmospheric pressure, helium, or other suitable gas.

The device may be `used for completing a circuit to a bell, or to a light, or to both a bell and light or to any suitable signal device.

The mercury switch 19 may also be replaced with a switch of any other suitable type or design in which all possibility of spark is eliminated.

Although the container is illustrated as being carried by an arm, such as a piano wire, the container may also be suspended by a cable, vertically disposed rod, or the like, and the switch operatively connected to the rod or cable.

The device is also adapted to be actuated to energize a solenoid for opening or closing a valve, or for manually actuating a valve or other control device.

It will be understood that other modications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas anticipator comprising an arm, a container carried by one end of the arm, a magnet mounted on the opposite end of the arm, a casing in which the parts are positioned, a pair of switches positioned whereby the switches are closed alternately by the magnet upon operation of the arm, said casing having louvers in upper and lower parts thereof, means for pivotally mounting the arm in the casing, and means for mounting the switches in the casing.

2. In a gas anticipator, the combination which comprises a rectangular-shaped casing having a base, rear, front and end walls, and an upper panel, a block mounted on the rear wall and positioned in the casing, a bracket including spaced vertically disposed bars suspended from the block, aligned bearings mounted in the bars, an axle having pointed ends positioned with the pointed ends pivotally mounted in the bearings, an arm carried by the axle, a gas container mounted on one end of the arm, a magnet mounted on the opposite end of the arm and a switch having contacts mounted in the casing and positioned whereby the contacts are actuated by the magnet on the arm for closing the switch.

3. In a gas anticipator, the combination which comprises a rectangular-shaped casing having a base, rear, front and end walls, and an upper panel, a block mounted on the rear wall and positioned in the casing, a bracket including spaced vertically disposed bars suspended from the block, aligned bearings mounted in the bars, an axle pivotally mounted in the bearings, an arm carried by the axle, a gas container mounted on one end of the arm, a magnet mounted on the opposite end of the arm, and a pair of switches having contacts mounted in the casing and positioned above and below the end of the arm upon which the magnet is carried whereby upon upward or downward movement of the arm the contacts are actuated by the magnet on the arm for closing one of the switches.

4. A gas anticipator comprising an arm, a container carried by one end of the arm, a magnet mounted on the opposite end of the arm, a pin having pointed ends extended through the arm and providing an axle therefor, bearings in which the pointed ends of the pin are pivotally mounted, a switch positioned to be closed by the magnet upon operation of the arm, a casing having louvers in upper and lower parts thereof, means for mounting the bearings in the casing, means for mounting the switch in the casing and a shaft having a loop thereon and a button on one end rotatably mounted in the casing for resetting the arm.

5. A gas anticipator unit comprising a casing having side walls, a back wall and cover means, pin means positioned in said casing in transverse relationship to said back wall and said cover means, an elongated straight rod mounted on said pin means in arcuate pivotal relationship therewith, a gas lled sealed bulb mounted on one end of said arm, weighted contact means mounted on the opposite end of said arm, switch means mounted within said casing to intersect the arcuate path of movement of said contact means upon the arcuate movement of said rod, means to provide atmosphere movement in a vertical direction in said casing, and means to reset said straight rod in a neutral position after same has been moved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,712 Miller Nov. 3, 1914 1,161,708 McCleary Nov. 23, 1915 2,204,161 Shepherd June 11, 1940 2,524,261 Kaminky Oct. 3, 1950 2,747,176 Cox May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 533,964 France Dec. 23, 1921 

